Enie Sims- provide depth and experience at the LB position. Fits in 4-3.

L.P. Ladouceur- solid long snapper.

Victor Butler- Pass rush depth. Possible nickel rusher.

Danny McCray- special teams ace. Hopefully minimal time on Defense.

All these re-signings would be for low years (1-3 years) and cheap money.

Free Agency- Not too much action, just value signings.

Sedrick Ellis- Fits in the 4-3. Come in and compete.

Dwight Freeney- Surprising signing. I'm thinking he don't get much action on market and we are able to bring him in to rush in Nickel opposite Ware.

Leonard Pope- Blocking TE just like we need. Won't be much of a progress stopper for Hanna.

Jason Smith- Bring him in and compete. Possible swing tackle.

Draft

Kenny Vaccaro- S- Texas- Sensy was a cap casualty, and I'm thinking Cooper and Warmack don't make it to 18. Vaccaro is a good consolation prize. He can step in right away at the FS spot, with Church/Matt Johnson at the SS. Can also come up and line up against the TE in the slot. I like his versatility.

Brandon Williams- DT- Missouri Southern- I want him to come in and play the 1 tech. This will allow Ratliff to play the 3, along with Hatcher. Williams would be a beast against the run, and will be involved in a healthy rotation at DT with Ratliff, Hatcher, and Ellis.

Justin Pugh- G/T- Syracuse- I'm drafting him because of his versatility. He can come in and compete at the Guard spot or he could compete with Parnell and Jason Smith for the RT spot.

Marcus Lattimore- RB- South Carolina- Love this kid when healthy. Dallas has shown that they will take risks on players with injury history i.e. Sean Lee, Bruce Carter, DeMarco Murray. I'm drafting him fully aware that he will more than likely begin the season on the PUP list. I don't want him to rush back into action. With Murray, Tanner, and Dunbar already on the roster, we can allow him to take his time and fully recover.

Marcus Davis- WR- Virginia Tech- ATHLETE. 6' 3" 233 lbs. Ran his 40 at 4.56. Vertial Jump: 39.5. I love his athleticism, and I believe he could make the roster in his first year. With a guy this size, he could be dangerous in the Red Zone. Right now our only Red Zone threat is Dez, so we need some help in that area.

David Bass- DE-Missouri Western- I'm bringing him in to provide pass rush depth. Small school kid, but loads of potential. We've all heard the saying "you can never have enough pass rushers". I think D-Ware could take him under his wing and teach him the ropes. I see him fitting in as a Pass Rush Specialist in the Nickel and Dime packages.

So there it is, my first mock of the year. I know I didn't address the OL until the 3rd, and I'm fully prepared to catch some grief for that. I think Pugh could fit right in though, and I already mentioned how I like his versatility. I like that with him and Mac Berny, we got two guys that can play multiple positions on the line. I didn't get into the Undrafted Free Agents, but positions I would look for there would be FB, CB, LB. I would bring in players at these postions to compete for their positions and for special teams roles.

I used walterfootball.com for almost all of my rankings, both for the draft and for free agency.

Let me know what you guys think.

not a fan a resigning mccray and cutting sensabaugh, i dont like sensabaugh but i like him a heck of alot then mccray as a safety b/c other than vacarro no else can be penciled in as starter, i would cut sensy if johnson or church can prove they can handle the job during training camp. don't see the point in keeping butler when you have kyle wilber since they're basically the same player. i like ellis for depth and pope as long as its at the vet minimum. freeney will get good money and i don't understand signing him and having resigned butler as a nickel pass rusher there isn't enough room on the field for all those guys. jason smith = alex barron.

vacarro and williams A+++, pugh lasting to the middle of the third round don't see it happening but i would a nice get there. i would rather see us get a running back that actually play this year, lattimore does us no good if murray goes down again. davis should make for a good special teams player. bass in 6th i good but you might have to cut him b/c you already have a bunch de's on your roster already

Enie Sims- provide depth and experience at the LB position. Fits in 4-3.

L.P. Ladouceur- solid long snapper.

Victor Butler- Pass rush depth. Possible nickel rusher.

Danny McCray- special teams ace. Hopefully minimal time on Defense.

All these re-signings would be for low years (1-3 years) and cheap money.

Free Agency- Not too much action, just value signings.

Sedrick Ellis- Fits in the 4-3. Come in and compete.

Dwight Freeney- Surprising signing. I'm thinking he don't get much action on market and we are able to bring him in to rush in Nickel opposite Ware.

Leonard Pope- Blocking TE just like we need. Won't be much of a progress stopper for Hanna.

Jason Smith- Bring him in and compete. Possible swing tackle.

Draft

Kenny Vaccaro- S- Texas- Sensy was a cap casualty, and I'm thinking Cooper and Warmack don't make it to 18. Vaccaro is a good consolation prize. He can step in right away at the FS spot, with Church/Matt Johnson at the SS. Can also come up and line up against the TE in the slot. I like his versatility.

Brandon Williams- DT- Missouri Southern- I want him to come in and play the 1 tech. This will allow Ratliff to play the 3, along with Hatcher. Williams would be a beast against the run, and will be involved in a healthy rotation at DT with Ratliff, Hatcher, and Ellis.

Justin Pugh- G/T- Syracuse- I'm drafting him because of his versatility. He can come in and compete at the Guard spot or he could compete with Parnell and Jason Smith for the RT spot.

Marcus Lattimore- RB- South Carolina- Love this kid when healthy. Dallas has shown that they will take risks on players with injury history i.e. Sean Lee, Bruce Carter, DeMarco Murray. I'm drafting him fully aware that he will more than likely begin the season on the PUP list. I don't want him to rush back into action. With Murray, Tanner, and Dunbar already on the roster, we can allow him to take his time and fully recover.

Marcus Davis- WR- Virginia Tech- ATHLETE. 6' 3" 233 lbs. Ran his 40 at 4.56. Vertial Jump: 39.5. I love his athleticism, and I believe he could make the roster in his first year. With a guy this size, he could be dangerous in the Red Zone. Right now our only Red Zone threat is Dez, so we need some help in that area.

David Bass- DE-Missouri Western- I'm bringing him in to provide pass rush depth. Small school kid, but loads of potential. We've all heard the saying "you can never have enough pass rushers". I think D-Ware could take him under his wing and teach him the ropes. I see him fitting in as a Pass Rush Specialist in the Nickel and Dime packages.

So there it is, my first mock of the year. I know I didn't address the OL until the 3rd, and I'm fully prepared to catch some grief for that. I think Pugh could fit right in though, and I already mentioned how I like his versatility. I like that with him and Mac Berny, we got two guys that can play multiple positions on the line. I didn't get into the Undrafted Free Agents, but positions I would look for there would be FB, CB, LB. I would bring in players at these postions to compete for their positions and for special teams roles.

I used walterfootball.com for almost all of my rankings, both for the draft and for free agency.

Let me know what you guys think.

I think Kenny Vaccaro- S- Texas, will be strictly a SS, I don't think FS is his best position, otherwise not a bad draft.

Trouble falling asleep tonight, got football on the mind. So I decided to write up a quick mock draft. It goes quite a bit different than my last one, and focuses heavy on the trenches. Here goes nothing.....

Chance Warmack- Alabama G- I have a tough time imagining 5 offensive linemen, including 2 OG's, going before 18. I think the 3 tackles are more likely to be taken, simply because of the need of that position. I think that Cooper will appeal more to teams because of his versatility. This is why I believe Warmack will be the one to slide, and Dallas capitalizes. Plug him in at Guard and he'll be a staple there for the next decade.

Tank Carradine- Florida St. DE- I've seen mock drafts with him going in the back end of the 1st round, I don't see this happening. I believe teams will be weary on him not only because of the ACL, but also the somewhat lack of experience. This also is a typical Dallas Cowboys pick. They are known to take risks in the 2nd on people with injuries, i.e. Bruce Carter, Sean Lee. I'm liking this pick the more I think about it. He doesn't have to rush back year 1, because Spencer has the tag and starting at LE. I think we could bring him along slowly, and let him fully grasp the scheme before throwing him out there. Also, Rod Marinelli will be salivating at the potential.

Brandon Williams- Missouri Southern DT- Rod Marinelli is definitely giddy in the war room now. I love this guys potential. With Spencer coming back, I could see Crawford working more as the 3 tech, along with Hatcher. Ratliff could also fill in at the 3 tech along with the 1 tech. Lissemore is at the 1 tech, but who else? I believe Brandon Williams can be that guy. Last mock I took him in the 2nd, but lately have seen him falling further down in mocks (for some reason). Having Rod Marinelli on board also really paid a huge factor in this decision. If anyone can squeeze out the potential of a kid like this, its Marinelli.

Duke Williams- Nevada Safety- Safety position has to be addressed. I believe they will bring in a mid level free agent, but the draft could also serve well at this position. Haven't got to see a ton of film on him, but from what I've seen, he looks promising. Also, I would love to hear the Dallas crowd yelling out DDDUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUKKKKEEE!!!!! every play he makes.

Christine Michael- Texas A&M RB- This is another position where Dallas needs to inject some youth. This kid has the size, and is athletic as well. Another reason I like him is his limited wear and tear. He ran in a RB by committee at Texas A&M, so that means he should have very fresh legs coming into the league.

Earl Wolff- - N.C. State Safety- I know I know, I already drafted a Safety, but I think we could double up at this position to induce even more competition in camp. Also, this dude is an athlete. At 6'0" and 207 lbs, he has the size to play the position, but he also ran his 40 in the 4.4's. Worst case scenario, he can come in and be a stud on special teams.

There's my second mock of the year. Everything will change pretty drastically after free agency, but that's why I wanted to do this before it starts. I didn't a couple mid level free agents to get in my way of the draft. Also, 900+ lbs combined for the first 3 picks, it's time to start winning battles in the trenches.

Trouble falling asleep tonight, got football on the mind. So I decided to write up a quick mock draft. It goes quite a bit different than my last one, and focuses heavy on the trenches. Here goes nothing.....

Chance Warmack- Alabama G- I have a tough time imagining 5 offensive linemen, including 2 OG's, going before 18. I think the 3 tackles are more likely to be taken, simply because of the need of that position. I think that Cooper will appeal more to teams because of his versatility. This is why I believe Warmack will be the one to slide, and Dallas capitalizes. Plug him in at Guard and he'll be a staple there for the next decade.

Tank Carradine- Florida St. DE- I've seen mock drafts with him going in the back end of the 1st round, I don't see this happening. I believe teams will be weary on him not only because of the ACL, but also the somewhat lack of experience. This also is a typical Dallas Cowboys pick. They are known to take risks in the 2nd on people with injuries, i.e. Bruce Carter, Sean Lee. I'm liking this pick the more I think about it. He doesn't have to rush back year 1, because Spencer has the tag and starting at LE. I think we could bring him along slowly, and let him fully grasp the scheme before throwing him out there. Also, Rod Marinelli will be salivating at the potential.

Brandon Williams- Missouri Southern DT- Rod Marinelli is definitely giddy in the war room now. I love this guys potential. With Spencer coming back, I could see Crawford working more as the 3 tech, along with Hatcher. Ratliff could also fill in at the 3 tech along with the 1 tech. Lissemore is at the 1 tech, but who else? I believe Brandon Williams can be that guy. Last mock I took him in the 2nd, but lately have seen him falling further down in mocks (for some reason). Having Rod Marinelli on board also really paid a huge factor in this decision. If anyone can squeeze out the potential of a kid like this, its Marinelli.

Duke Williams- Nevada Safety- Safety position has to be addressed. I believe they will bring in a mid level free agent, but the draft could also serve well at this position. Haven't got to see a ton of film on him, but from what I've seen, he looks promising. Also, I would love to hear the Dallas crowd yelling out DDDUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUKKKKEEE!!!!! every play he makes.

Christine Michael- Texas A&M RB- This is another position where Dallas needs to inject some youth. This kid has the size, and is athletic as well. Another reason I like him is his limited wear and tear. He ran in a RB by committee at Texas A&M, so that means he should have very fresh legs coming into the league.

Earl Wolff- - N.C. State Safety- I know I know, I already drafted a Safety, but I think we could double up at this position to induce even more competition in camp. Also, this dude is an athlete. At 6'0" and 207 lbs, he has the size to play the position, but he also ran his 40 in the 4.4's. Worst case scenario, he can come in and be a stud on special teams.

There's my second mock of the year. Everything will change pretty drastically after free agency, but that's why I wanted to do this before it starts. I didn't a couple mid level free agents to get in my way of the draft. Also, 900+ lbs combined for the first 3 picks, it's time to start winning battles in the trenches.

I like it but have a few questions

Is Carradine someone who can play LDE in the future? To me, he's better suited to play RDE and would end up having the same problem Spencer will have with being undersized for the strong side.

What do you think? I'm pretty sure he played RDE for FSU as well with Werner at LDE

I really like Duke Williams as a mid round FS prospect. Functional speed, physical, has all the tools you'd want but is a little raw. I've seen him make some great plays, but I've also seen a handful of mistakes. Although, it did look like his CB's failed to do their jobs on the big plays I saw him give up. He was a big time recruit that chose to stay local. Could have been at USC if he wanted.

With Christine Michael, I know he has off the field issues but I just don't think he'll last until the 5th. I've heard it said by some people he has too much talent to make it out of the 2nd.

I believe Carradine can come in and play LDE. He's got the size to do it for sure. He's already an inch taller, and about 20 lbs heavier than Spencer. At 6'3" 276 lbs, he is the prototype for the 4-3 DE. Plus, I'm sure he'd add about 10 pounds by his second year, if not more. The only workout he did at the combine was the bench press, and he benched 225 lbs 28 times, which is a pretty respectable number for a DE. I watched the tape of him against Clemson and Miami, and noticed he actually lines up at LE a handful of times. I'm not sure if this was just to give the OL different looks or rotation or what. I think he can hold the point of attack well in this defense, and like I mentioned in the mock, he's got Marinelli to mold him into a true LE. And also like I said in the mock, he doesn't have to rush into playing time, cuz Spencer's already here for atleast one more year, so he can get a full grasp on the position before seeing significant playing time.

Here is the analysis of Tank from nfl.com. The first line of the strengths suggests that they also believe he'd fit in at the LE spot in the 4-3.

Analysis

Strengths
Carradine flashes explosion off the snap to challenge the lateral agility of right tackles, and can swipe them away with strong hands to slingshot into the pocket. He also plays with the leverage of a shorter player, brings a strong initial punch to bull lesser tackles off the ball, and simply shoves tight ends away like ragdolls in the run game. Thereís certainly no issue with his motor, as he will hustle to the sideline if the play can be made.
Weaknesses
Though Carradine shows most all of the physical attributes teams covet in a defensive end, his lack of experience is a negative. And if he isnít on the field for any extended period of time in 2012, it might be tough for scouts to give him a starterís grade because they donít know what his level of stamina against better competition.
NFL Comparison
Justin Tuck
Bottom Line
On most other defenses, Carradine would have started as a first-year junior college transfer, but Bjoern Werner and Brandon Jenkins limited his snaps in 2011. Still, he flashed real athleticism and strength and was able to take the starting right defensive end spot by the horns when Jenkins was sidelined for the season. Carradine appeared to be headed for a first-round selection, but a torn ACL will limit his work prior to April's draft. The talent is certainly there, however.

Trouble falling asleep tonight, got football on the mind. So I decided to write up a quick mock draft. It goes quite a bit different than my last one, and focuses heavy on the trenches. Here goes nothing.....

Chance Warmack- Alabama G- I have a tough time imagining 5 offensive linemen, including 2 OG's, going before 18. I think the 3 tackles are more likely to be taken, simply because of the need of that position. I think that Cooper will appeal more to teams because of his versatility. This is why I believe Warmack will be the one to slide, and Dallas capitalizes. Plug him in at Guard and he'll be a staple there for the next decade.

Tank Carradine- Florida St. DE- I've seen mock drafts with him going in the back end of the 1st round, I don't see this happening. I believe teams will be weary on him not only because of the ACL, but also the somewhat lack of experience. This also is a typical Dallas Cowboys pick. They are known to take risks in the 2nd on people with injuries, i.e. Bruce Carter, Sean Lee. I'm liking this pick the more I think about it. He doesn't have to rush back year 1, because Spencer has the tag and starting at LE. I think we could bring him along slowly, and let him fully grasp the scheme before throwing him out there. Also, Rod Marinelli will be salivating at the potential.

Brandon Williams- Missouri Southern DT- Rod Marinelli is definitely giddy in the war room now. I love this guys potential. With Spencer coming back, I could see Crawford working more as the 3 tech, along with Hatcher. Ratliff could also fill in at the 3 tech along with the 1 tech. Lissemore is at the 1 tech, but who else? I believe Brandon Williams can be that guy. Last mock I took him in the 2nd, but lately have seen him falling further down in mocks (for some reason). Having Rod Marinelli on board also really paid a huge factor in this decision. If anyone can squeeze out the potential of a kid like this, its Marinelli.

Duke Williams- Nevada Safety- Safety position has to be addressed. I believe they will bring in a mid level free agent, but the draft could also serve well at this position. Haven't got to see a ton of film on him, but from what I've seen, he looks promising. Also, I would love to hear the Dallas crowd yelling out DDDUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUKKKKEEE!!!!! every play he makes.

Christine Michael- Texas A&M RB- This is another position where Dallas needs to inject some youth. This kid has the size, and is athletic as well. Another reason I like him is his limited wear and tear. He ran in a RB by committee at Texas A&M, so that means he should have very fresh legs coming into the league.

Earl Wolff- - N.C. State Safety- I know I know, I already drafted a Safety, but I think we could double up at this position to induce even more competition in camp. Also, this dude is an athlete. At 6'0" and 207 lbs, he has the size to play the position, but he also ran his 40 in the 4.4's. Worst case scenario, he can come in and be a stud on special teams.

There's my second mock of the year. Everything will change pretty drastically after free agency, but that's why I wanted to do this before it starts. I didn't a couple mid level free agents to get in my way of the draft. Also, 900+ lbs combined for the first 3 picks, it's time to start winning battles in the trenches.

not in love with the carradine pick i see the potential but i feel like he can only be a pass rush specialist with the personnel the cowboys already have on defense.

i really don't think brandon williams is gonna be around by the time our 3rd rounder comes around, i really like him but he has some pass rush potential as a nose tackle, which should only push his value up

duke williams

as for michael, he did have ridiculous combine and is probably the most gifted back in this class, but i agree and disagree with drewy. i agree that he aint gonna be around in the fifth, but i disagree about the off the field stuff, its more on the field concerns, well really football character concerns, how much does football mean to him, and once he gets the money and notoriety will he continue to dedicate himself to the game, and for that reason i don't see jason garrett signing off on him

I believe Carradine can come in and play LDE. He's got the size to do it for sure. He's already an inch taller, and about 20 lbs heavier than Spencer. At 6'3" 276 lbs, he is the prototype for the 4-3 DE. Plus, I'm sure he'd add about 10 pounds by his second year, if not more. The only workout he did at the combine was the bench press, and he benched 225 lbs 28 times, which is a pretty respectable number for a DE. I watched the tape of him against Clemson and Miami, and noticed he actually lines up at LE a handful of times. I'm not sure if this was just to give the OL different looks or rotation or what. I think he can hold the point of attack well in this defense, and like I mentioned in the mock, he's got Marinelli to mold him into a true LE. And also like I said in the mock, he doesn't have to rush into playing time, cuz Spencer's already here for atleast one more year, so he can get a full grasp on the position before seeing significant playing time.

Here is the analysis of Tank from nfl.com. The first line of the strengths suggests that they also believe he'd fit in at the LE spot in the 4-3.

Analysis

Strengths
Carradine flashes explosion off the snap to challenge the lateral agility of right tackles, and can swipe them away with strong hands to slingshot into the pocket. He also plays with the leverage of a shorter player, brings a strong initial punch to bull lesser tackles off the ball, and simply shoves tight ends away like ragdolls in the run game. Thereís certainly no issue with his motor, as he will hustle to the sideline if the play can be made.
Weaknesses
Though Carradine shows most all of the physical attributes teams covet in a defensive end, his lack of experience is a negative. And if he isnít on the field for any extended period of time in 2012, it might be tough for scouts to give him a starterís grade because they donít know what his level of stamina against better competition.
NFL Comparison
Justin Tuck
Bottom Line
On most other defenses, Carradine would have started as a first-year junior college transfer, but Bjoern Werner and Brandon Jenkins limited his snaps in 2011. Still, he flashed real athleticism and strength and was able to take the starting right defensive end spot by the horns when Jenkins was sidelined for the season. Carradine appeared to be headed for a first-round selection, but a torn ACL will limit his work prior to April's draft. The talent is certainly there, however.

The listing I saw on him had his weight at 264 which was concerning to me. 275/280 is much better for the position.

I haven't studied Carradine much. I glanced at him while watching Werner but haven't put in the time yet.

not in love with the carradine pick i see the potential but i feel like he can only be a pass rush specialist with the personnel the cowboys already have on defense.

i really don't think brandon williams is gonna be around by the time our 3rd rounder comes around, i really like him but he has some pass rush potential as a nose tackle, which should only push his value up

duke williams

as for michael, he did have ridiculous combine and is probably the most gifted back in this class, but i agree and disagree with drewy. i agree that he aint gonna be around in the fifth, but i disagree about the off the field stuff, its more on the field concerns, well really football character concerns, how much does football mean to him, and once he gets the money and notoriety will he continue to dedicate himself to the game, and for that reason i don't see jason garrett signing off on him

Yes, I should have said character concerns. I don't know any of the details of what happened, I'm not sure if they're available, but I know he was in Sumlin's doghouse

Trouble falling asleep tonight, got football on the mind. So I decided to write up a quick mock draft. It goes quite a bit different than my last one, and focuses heavy on the trenches. Here goes nothing.....

Chance Warmack- Alabama G- I have a tough time imagining 5 offensive linemen, including 2 OG's, going before 18. I think the 3 tackles are more likely to be taken, simply because of the need of that position. I think that Cooper will appeal more to teams because of his versatility. This is why I believe Warmack will be the one to slide, and Dallas capitalizes. Plug him in at Guard and he'll be a staple there for the next decade.

Tank Carradine- Florida St. DE- I've seen mock drafts with him going in the back end of the 1st round, I don't see this happening. I believe teams will be weary on him not only because of the ACL, but also the somewhat lack of experience. This also is a typical Dallas Cowboys pick. They are known to take risks in the 2nd on people with injuries, i.e. Bruce Carter, Sean Lee. I'm liking this pick the more I think about it. He doesn't have to rush back year 1, because Spencer has the tag and starting at LE. I think we could bring him along slowly, and let him fully grasp the scheme before throwing him out there. Also, Rod Marinelli will be salivating at the potential.

Brandon Williams- Missouri Southern DT- Rod Marinelli is definitely giddy in the war room now. I love this guys potential. With Spencer coming back, I could see Crawford working more as the 3 tech, along with Hatcher. Ratliff could also fill in at the 3 tech along with the 1 tech. Lissemore is at the 1 tech, but who else? I believe Brandon Williams can be that guy. Last mock I took him in the 2nd, but lately have seen him falling further down in mocks (for some reason). Having Rod Marinelli on board also really paid a huge factor in this decision. If anyone can squeeze out the potential of a kid like this, its Marinelli.

Duke Williams- Nevada Safety- Safety position has to be addressed. I believe they will bring in a mid level free agent, but the draft could also serve well at this position. Haven't got to see a ton of film on him, but from what I've seen, he looks promising. Also, I would love to hear the Dallas crowd yelling out DDDUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUKKKKEEE!!!!! every play he makes.

Christine Michael- Texas A&M RB- This is another position where Dallas needs to inject some youth. This kid has the size, and is athletic as well. Another reason I like him is his limited wear and tear. He ran in a RB by committee at Texas A&M, so that means he should have very fresh legs coming into the league.

Earl Wolff- - N.C. State Safety- I know I know, I already drafted a Safety, but I think we could double up at this position to induce even more competition in camp. Also, this dude is an athlete. At 6'0" and 207 lbs, he has the size to play the position, but he also ran his 40 in the 4.4's. Worst case scenario, he can come in and be a stud on special teams.

There's my second mock of the year. Everything will change pretty drastically after free agency, but that's why I wanted to do this before it starts. I didn't a couple mid level free agents to get in my way of the draft. Also, 900+ lbs combined for the first 3 picks, it's time to start winning battles in the trenches.

1) Tavon Austin 5'9 175 lbs, WR West Virginia-The team has been rumored to be very interesting in Austin and with both interior line prospects/ Vaccaro gone he is the highest player on the board. It may seem to be a luxary pick but imo it is very important to build up the offense to be effective post Romo. Tavon is tailer made for the Air Coryell, he has elite change of direction skills to be highly disruptive in underneath routes as Dez/Miles push verticle to eliminate saftey coverage. Developing another WR threat is a necessity considering Miles will eventually become a cap casulty.

2) Kyle Long 6'6 313, OT Oregon Long proved at the combine that he has the athleticism and raw skills to develop into a plus tackle in this league. He also has the positional versatility to kick inside to guard if need be which the team values. Either way Long has the talent to lock down either the RG/RT postion his rookie season while he continues to refine his skills.

3) Barrett Jones 6'4 306, OG/C Alabama Concerns about his recovery from a lisfranc injury and the future impact that it might play in future injury knocks Jones down the boards. Barrett has 1st round technique and even with his average athleticism he is a high ceiling/ low floor type of player. If healthy he will turn into a Kyle Kosier type player at worst.

4) Sanders Commings 6'0 216, S Georgia Commings has experience as both a CB/S and is a physical presence in the secondary. He has the athleticism to matchup with tightends in coverage and should be successful in the deep half. He has a simple assault charge against him for allegedly shaking his girlfriend, that issue will have to be cleared through the team.

5) Knile Davis 5'11 227, RB Arkansas Davis once looked to be a early selection before a series of injuries changed the way he attacked the los. While he still has very good triangle numbers his production has tanked over the last couple of seasons as he tends to run away from contact. Still his potential is very high if he can return to form, especially from a reserve roll.

6) Stansly Maponga 6'2 256, DE TCU Maponga has already been scheduled for a visit at Valley Ranch and on tape looks like a solid prospect. While he might not be elite at anything he looks to be solid all the way around and has a motor that runs hot all the time.

+10.4 milRonde Barber S-- Barber is still contemplating retiring and will wade in free agency for a while. Essentially he will either resign with Tampa or retire but the chance to reunite with Kiffin might draw him out to Big D. Monte could also offer Barber the chance to get his feet wet as a player coach in the secondary. 2 yr 6 mil(1.5 mil hit 2013)

Amobi Okoye DT- This is a move to get a young talented player that hasn't reached his potential. Marinelli had him in Chicago and could continue to develop him into a good rotational 3 tech. 2 yrs 1.9 mil ( 700,000 2013 cap hit)

Cedric Griffin CB-- A veteran reserve needed to be brought in after the departure of Mike Jenkins. Griffin has experience in the cover two from his time in Minnesota and has played nickle coverage in Washington. 2yr 5mil ( 1.5 mil 2013 cap hit)

1) Tavon Austin 5'9 175 lbs, WR West Virginia-The team has been rumored to be very interesting in Austin and with both interior line prospects/ Vaccaro gone he is the highest player on the board. It may seem to be a luxary pick but imo it is very important to build up the offense to be effective post Romo. Tavon is tailer made for the Air Coryell, he has elite change of direction skills to be highly disruptive in underneath routes as Dez/Miles push verticle to eliminate saftey coverage. Developing another WR threat is a necessity considering Miles will eventually become a cap casulty.

2) Kyle Long 6'6 313, OT Oregon Long proved at the combine that he has the athleticism and raw skills to develop into a plus tackle in this league. He also has the positional versatility to kick inside to guard if need be which the team values. Either way Long has the talent to lock down either the RG/RT postion his rookie season while he continues to refine his skills.

3) Barrett Jones 6'4 306, OG/C Alabama Concerns about his recovery from a lisfranc injury and the future impact that it might play in future injury knocks Jones down the boards. Barrett has 1st round technique and even with his average athleticism he is a high ceiling/ low floor type of player. If healthy he will turn into a Kyle Kosier type player at worst.

4) Sanders Commings 6'0 216, S Georgia Commings has experience as both a CB/S and is a physical presence in the secondary. He has the athleticism to matchup with tightends in coverage and should be successful in the deep half. He has a simple assault charge against him for allegedly shaking his girlfriend, that issue will have to be cleared through the team.

5) Knile Davis 5'11 227, RB Arkansas Davis once looked to be a early selection before a series of injuries changed the way he attacked the los. While he still has very good triangle numbers his production has tanked over the last couple of seasons as he tends to run away from contact. Still his potential is very high if he can return to form, especially from a reserve roll.

6) Stansly Maponga 6'2 256, DE TCU Maponga has already been scheduled for a visit at Valley Ranch and on tape looks like a solid prospect. While he might not be elite at anything he looks to be solid all the way around and has a motor that runs hot all the time.

+10.4 milRonde Barber S-- Barber is still contemplating retiring and will wade in free agency for a while. Essentially he will either resign with Tampa or retire but the chance to reunite with Kiffin might draw him out to Big D. Monte could also offer Barber the chance to get his feet wet as a player coach in the secondary. 2 yr 6 mil(1.5 mil hit 2013)

Amobi Okoye DT- This is a move to get a young talented player that hasn't reached his potential. Marinelli had him in Chicago and could continue to develop him into a good rotational 3 tech. 2 yrs 1.9 mil ( 700,000 2013 cap hit)

Cedric Griffin CB-- A veteran reserve needed to be brought in after the departure of Mike Jenkins. Griffin has experience in the cover two from his time in Minnesota and has played nickle coverage in Washington. 2yr 5mil ( 1.5 mil 2013 cap hit)

+6.3 mil in cap space to sign draft picks.

Tavon in Round 1??? Wow, that'd be an eye opener. Too bad we just gave Miles Austin more future guaranteed money when we restructured him. I don't see the team going WR that early anymore. I really wish we had threatened Miles that we would cut him in order to get him to rework a cheaper contract. The idea of Tavon here is exciting and I don't doubt the ROI, but this one is a little unnerving.

Long and Jones in subsequent rounds makes the Tavon pick easier to swallow.

Overall I like it. Especially like Johnathan Stewart as an UDFA and Ronde Barber in FA. Same as my mock. :)

I hated this when I noticed you had a wr in the first. But after reading it all, I have to say i like it. Not enough in the OL department for me personally, but I have to admit I like it when factoring in all the off season stuff.

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Trouble falling asleep tonight, got football on the mind. So I decided to write up a quick mock draft. It goes quite a bit different than my last one, and focuses heavy on the trenches. Here goes nothing.....

Chance Warmack- Alabama G- I have a tough time imagining 5 offensive linemen, including 2 OG's, going before 18. I think the 3 tackles are more likely to be taken, simply because of the need of that position. I think that Cooper will appeal more to teams because of his versatility. This is why I believe Warmack will be the one to slide, and Dallas capitalizes. Plug him in at Guard and he'll be a staple there for the next decade.

Tank Carradine- Florida St. DE- I've seen mock drafts with him going in the back end of the 1st round, I don't see this happening. I believe teams will be weary on him not only because of the ACL, but also the somewhat lack of experience. This also is a typical Dallas Cowboys pick. They are known to take risks in the 2nd on people with injuries, i.e. Bruce Carter, Sean Lee. I'm liking this pick the more I think about it. He doesn't have to rush back year 1, because Spencer has the tag and starting at LE. I think we could bring him along slowly, and let him fully grasp the scheme before throwing him out there. Also, Rod Marinelli will be salivating at the potential.

Brandon Williams- Missouri Southern DT- Rod Marinelli is definitely giddy in the war room now. I love this guys potential. With Spencer coming back, I could see Crawford working more as the 3 tech, along with Hatcher. Ratliff could also fill in at the 3 tech along with the 1 tech. Lissemore is at the 1 tech, but who else? I believe Brandon Williams can be that guy. Last mock I took him in the 2nd, but lately have seen him falling further down in mocks (for some reason). Having Rod Marinelli on board also really paid a huge factor in this decision. If anyone can squeeze out the potential of a kid like this, its Marinelli.

Duke Williams- Nevada Safety- Safety position has to be addressed. I believe they will bring in a mid level free agent, but the draft could also serve well at this position. Haven't got to see a ton of film on him, but from what I've seen, he looks promising. Also, I would love to hear the Dallas crowd yelling out DDDUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUKKKKEEE!!!!! every play he makes.

Christine Michael- Texas A&M RB- This is another position where Dallas needs to inject some youth. This kid has the size, and is athletic as well. Another reason I like him is his limited wear and tear. He ran in a RB by committee at Texas A&M, so that means he should have very fresh legs coming into the league.

Earl Wolff- - N.C. State Safety- I know I know, I already drafted a Safety, but I think we could double up at this position to induce even more competition in camp. Also, this dude is an athlete. At 6'0" and 207 lbs, he has the size to play the position, but he also ran his 40 in the 4.4's. Worst case scenario, he can come in and be a stud on special teams.

There's my second mock of the year. Everything will change pretty drastically after free agency, but that's why I wanted to do this before it starts. I didn't a couple mid level free agents to get in my way of the draft. Also, 900+ lbs combined for the first 3 picks, it's time to start winning battles in the trenches.

Easily my favorite mock draft of all that I've seen. If only a developmental tackle was in there (that kid from Colorado perhaps?), would be an absolute fantasy.

1) Tavon Austin 5'9 175 lbs, WR West Virginia-The team has been rumored to be very interesting in Austin and with both interior line prospects/ Vaccaro gone he is the highest player on the board. It may seem to be a luxary pick but imo it is very important to build up the offense to be effective post Romo. Tavon is tailer made for the Air Coryell, he has elite change of direction skills to be highly disruptive in underneath routes as Dez/Miles push verticle to eliminate saftey coverage. Developing another WR threat is a necessity considering Miles will eventually become a cap casulty.

No, I figured him in at #16 to the Rams, just forgot to put him in the draft breakdown. I am a big fan of Patterson, he is a nice fit for the scheme as well and is has a similar skill set to Dez. If they were both on the board I think it would be an interesting call though. Austin is much more polished as a route runner then people give him credit for and has NFL ready hands. Patterson has a higher ceiling but is going to have a bigger learning curve especially when it comes to expanding his route tree.

Either way I don't think you lose, Tavon has the best stop and go/ zero to sixty acceleration to create space I've seen in college since Reggie Bush. In a scheme designed to push the safeties in deep coverage to open up the underneath routes he can certainly cause havoc for opposing defenses. With Patterson you get a guy who is hard to cover 1 vs 1 on the outside. He can catch the short ball and break tackles to get in the open field or use his big frame to go get the ball in tight coverage. Not to mention he can run past most corners if he catches them sleeping.

The interesting thing is that our WR coach Dooley has a feel for Patterson since he was the head coach at Tennessee last year. If anybody he should have the most input if it came down to those two players because he knows what Cordarelle's work ethic and learning capacity are.

The fact that the team has not restructured Free's deal is a GREAT sign! If they did that would mean that they want him long term. Since I don't think that is the case, I think he's destined to be a June 1st cut. If I'm running the Cowboys, that designation would've been done a long time ago. Same time as Spears.

Restructures:
Tony Romo

This has to get done asap. FAs are being gobbled up as we speak! C'mon dude! This is a joke already.

Franchise Tag:
Anthony Spencer

I want to keep the tag on him. I hear the rumors about extending him, but I'm not really interested in that yet. Let's see how this year plays out with him in the new system. If it doesn't work out, we just shot ourselves in the foot again. I know Jerry wants some FA action, but it should come at the extension of Romo, not Spencer. Crossing fingers.

FA:

Maybe we don't get all of these guys, but here's a short list nonetheless.

Ronde Barber, S
Sticking to my guns here. I really hope Barber lands with us and I'm glad the team is positioning themselves to do so. When Tampa signed Dashon Golston I was smiling ear to ear with the thought that Barber's days in Tampa are done. If the Cowboys want Kiffin to turn things around fast, they better bring this guy in. He would be a huge boon to our secondary. I know folks criticize his age, but this guy is the perfect stop gap.

Brandon Moore, OG
Bill Callahan knows all about Moore. Bringing him here would help shore up our OL and give us options in the draft. As an immediate impact guy, he's exactly what we need. He's 32 years old, so the FA calls haven't stormed through his door, but we need help asap and he's already familiar with Callahan.

Antoine Winfield, CB
I have to think that he's been one of the best Tampa 2 CBs of all time. Definitely one of the best run stuffing CBs and to add to that, a very savvy blitzer. While no spring chicken, our secondary is very shallow and Winfield, just like Ronde, would be another field mentor to help this defense transition smoothly. A quality stop gap solution who could finish his career here. Won't need to start which should help prolong his career and keep him fresh in games.

Justin Durant, LB
Too many FAs??? Maybe, but I think Romo's extension is coming soon and in addition either Spencer will get a new contract or Doug Free will be designated a June 1st cut like Spears was. I'm hoping for the latter as a new Spencer contract would worry me. Durant is visiting today, and the last deal he signed was a 2 year $5.5M contract. I think something similar should be expected.

Draft:

R1: C/OG Jonathan Cooper, UNC

Everything I read tells me that the Cowboys have doubts that he'll be there for us to pick, so I'm glad they're doing their homework looking at other options just in case. But I'm pretty confident that he will be. David DeCastro was everyone's Love Child last year often labeled the best OG in a decade. Even he lasted till 21 when all was said and done. I can't believe 2 OGs will go before 18. I'll believe it when I see it. He'll give us options at LG and C.

R2: OT Menelik Watson, FSU

Doug Free's status is to be determined by what happens in the draft. Since that's the case, I don't see us waiting long to draft a tackle. I've said this before, but I think there are a lot of similarities between him and Tyron Smith. Both RTs in college, oozing with athleticism with a unique blend of finesse and power. Both incredibly raw, but Watson even moreso. I think that in combination with other OT risers in Terron Armstead and Kyle Long will cause him to fall to us in the second. I didn't realize how far down we select in Round 2, but it sucks. Watson will most expectantly have some struggles as a rookie... but I can't believe he'd be as bad as Free was last year. He really played like he didn't care. If we used our first 2 picks on OL, Cowboys Nation might be so happy they wouldn't know what to do with themselves.

R3: DJ Swearinger, South Carolina

This f'n guy gets me NUTS! I pray to God that the Cowboys get him. He's my favorite player in the draft. The key to Seattle's defense is not in the journeyman DTs that they have. It's in their Safety tadem of Earl Thomas and Kam Chancellor. Swearinger is a BEAST. He's the kind of gamebreaker and inspirational leader that can take this D to that level it needs to be at. Because he loves to hit, he's a perfect fit for Kiffin's approach.

R4: DE David Bass, Missouri Western St

It's that time of the draft where they Cowboys take someone and you're like... Who??? Did any other team have him this high?? WTF?! But make no mistake, Bass is the kind of guy that the Cowboys love to take gambles on. He's another small school guy with great measurables and eye popping stats. This year's Robert Brewster/David Arkin/Matt Johnson-like pick. They aren't gonna catch me by surprise this year!!! haha! Bass stands 6'5, 275 with a super athletic muscular build. He opened eyes when he ran a 4.69 40 at his Pro Day and in 4 years at MW St he racked up 210 tackles, 57.5 TFL, and 39.5 Sacks! He possess the character that Garrett looks for. "Determined" is one of the things Bass says helps him with his success. Dude's a freakin' youtube beast! A shot in the dark here, but I had to do it to make me feel like this mock was semi-realistic. LOL!

R5: RB Kenjon Barner, Oregon

Back to more noticeable names...of course, I love Jawan Jamison, but just to mix it up a little, if gettin' jiggy wit it is what our RB coach wants then Kenjon Barner fits that bill better. He'd definitely bring more speed and excitement to our squad and I have a huge hunch that Garrett wants to make this offense EXPLOSIVE! Barner is a guy you rather have on your own sideline than your enemy's. I can just see Chip Kelly bringing him to Philly and that doesn't sound too fun.

R6: WR Ace Sanders, South Carolina

I don't care what his draft value is, there is NOT a 5-6 round difference between Tavon Austin and Ace Sanders in my opinion. Some teams may look at Sanders as strictly a kick returner and weren't all impressed with his timed 40 at the combine (4.58), but Ace has the most unbelievable ability to switch gears and change his speed and direction. His size isn't an issue with me. The Welkers, Amendolas and even our own Beasley have shown ability to make it in this league. But I think Sanders is better than Beasley because he has better YAC ability and that's exactly what we need out of that slot WR spot. Getting him in Round 6 feels like a crime.

UDFAMLB Johnathan Stewart, Texas A&M

Youtube Clips (Gotta Love 'em!)

Roster:

QB Tony Romo / Kyle Orton
- Some folks are more worried about a #3 QB, but I'm not interested in using a pick or FA $ on a QB unless he's the future starting QB. Minimum vet $ or an UDFA suits me fine for now.

RB Demarco Murray / Kenjon Barner / Lance Dunbar
- Barner fits the bill for the the type of guy we're supposedly looking for. We'll need another body, but UDFA has been shown to do that in the past.

FB Lawrence Vickers
- I'm not in favor of cutting him.

WR Dez Bryant / Danny Coale
WR Miles Austin / Dwayne Harris
SWR Ace Sanders / Dan Beasley
- I do think we need to spend a pick on WR in this draft. Whoever it is, I hope he's a guy who has excellent YAC ability.

TE Jason Witten / James Hanna
- I could see us going with a TE somewhere. I like Toilolo, but keep an eye on Travis Kelce.

The fact that the team has not restructured Free's deal is a GREAT sign! If they did that would mean that they want him long term. Since I don't think that is the case, I think he's destined to be a June 1st cut. If I'm running the Cowboys, that designation would've been done a long time ago. Same time as Spears.

Restructures:
Tony Romo

This has to get done asap. FAs are being gobbled up as we speak! C'mon dude! This is a joke already.

Franchise Tag:
Anthony Spencer

I want to keep the tag on him. I hear the rumors about extending him, but I'm not really interested in that yet. Let's see how this year plays out with him in the new system. If it doesn't work out, we just shot ourselves in the foot again. I know Jerry wants some FA action, but it should come at the extension of Romo, not Spencer. Crossing fingers.

FA:

Maybe we don't get all of these guys, but here's a short list nonetheless.

Ronde Barber, S
Sticking to my guns here. I really hope Barber lands with us and I'm glad the team is positioning themselves to do so. When Tampa signed Dashon Golston I was smiling ear to ear with the thought that Barber's days in Tampa are done. If the Cowboys want Kiffin to turn things around fast, they better bring this guy in. He would be a huge boon to our secondary. I know folks criticize his age, but this guy is the perfect stop gap.

Brandon Moore, OG
Bill Callahan knows all about Moore. Bringing him here would help shore up our OL and give us options in the draft. As an immediate impact guy, he's exactly what we need. He's 32 years old, so the FA calls haven't stormed through his door, but we need help asap and he's already familiar with Callahan.

Antoine Winfield, CB
I have to think that he's been one of the best Tampa 2 CBs of all time. Definitely one of the best run stuffing CBs and to add to that, a very savvy blitzer. While no spring chicken, our secondary is very shallow and Winfield, just like Ronde, would be another field mentor to help this defense transition smoothly. A quality stop gap solution who could finish his career here. Won't need to start which should help prolong his career and keep him fresh in games.

Justin Durant, LB
Too many FAs??? Maybe, but I think Romo's extension is coming soon and in addition either Spencer will get a new contract or Doug Free will be designated a June 1st cut like Spears was. I'm hoping for the latter as a new Spencer contract would worry me. Durant is visiting today, and the last deal he signed was a 2 year $5.5M contract. I think something similar should be expected.

Draft:

R1: C/OG Jonathan Cooper, UNC

Everything I read tells me that the Cowboys have doubts that he'll be there for us to pick, so I'm glad they're doing their homework looking at other options just in case. But I'm pretty confident that he will be. David DeCastro was everyone's Love Child last year often labeled the best OG in a decade. Even he lasted till 21 when all was said and done. I can't believe 2 OGs will go before 18. I'll believe it when I see it. He'll give us options at LG and C.

R2: OT Menelik Watson, FSU

Doug Free's status is to be determined by what happens in the draft. Since that's the case, I don't see us waiting long to draft a tackle. I've said this before, but I think there are a lot of similarities between him and Tyron Smith. Both RTs in college, oozing with athleticism with a unique blend of finesse and power. Both incredibly raw, but Watson even moreso. I think that in combination with other OT risers in Terron Armstead and Kyle Long will cause him to fall to us in the second. I didn't realize how far down we select in Round 2, but it sucks. Watson will most expectantly have some struggles as a rookie... but I can't believe he'd be as bad as Free was last year. He really played like he didn't care. If we used our first 2 picks on OL, Cowboys Nation might be so happy they wouldn't know what to do with themselves.

R3: DJ Swearinger, South Carolina

This f'n guy gets me NUTS! I pray to God that the Cowboys get him. He's my favorite player in the draft. The key to Seattle's defense is not in the journeyman DTs that they have. It's in their Safety tadem of Earl Thomas and Kam Chancellor. Swearinger is a BEAST. He's the kind of gamebreaker and inspirational leader that can take this D to that level it needs to be at. Because he loves to hit, he's a perfect fit for Kiffin's approach.

R4: DE David Bass, Missouri Western St

It's that time of the draft where they Cowboys take someone and you're like... Who??? Did any other team have him this high?? WTF?! But make no mistake, Bass is the kind of guy that the Cowboys love to take gambles on. He's another small school guy with great measurables and eye popping stats. This year's Robert Brewster/David Arkin/Matt Johnson-like pick. They aren't gonna catch me by surprise this year!!! haha! Bass stands 6'5, 275 with a super athletic muscular build. He opened eyes when he ran a 4.69 40 at his Pro Day and in 4 years at MW St he racked up 210 tackles, 57.5 TFL, and 39.5 Sacks! He possess the character that Garrett looks for. "Determined" is one of the things Bass says helps him with his success. Dude's a freakin' youtube beast! A shot in the dark here, but I had to do it to make me feel like this mock was semi-realistic. LOL!

R5: RB Kenjon Barner, Oregon

Back to more noticeable names...of course, I love Jawan Jamison, but just to mix it up a little, if gettin' jiggy wit it is what our RB coach wants then Kenjon Barner fits that bill better. He'd definitely bring more speed and excitement to our squad and I have a huge hunch that Garrett wants to make this offense EXPLOSIVE! Barner is a guy you rather have on your own sideline than your enemy's. I can just see Chip Kelly bringing him to Philly and that doesn't sound too fun.

R6: WR Ace Sanders, South Carolina

I don't care what his draft value is, there is NOT a 5-6 round difference between Tavon Austin and Ace Sanders in my opinion. Some teams may look at Sanders as strictly a kick returner and weren't all impressed with his timed 40 at the combine (4.58), but Ace has the most unbelievable ability to switch gears and change his speed and direction. His size isn't an issue with me. The Welkers, Amendolas and even our own Beasley have shown ability to make it in this league. But I think Sanders is better than Beasley because he has better YAC ability and that's exactly what we need out of that slot WR spot. Getting him in Round 6 feels like a crime.

UDFAMLB Johnathan Stewart, Texas A&M

Youtube Clips (Gotta Love 'em!)

Roster:

QB Tony Romo / Kyle Orton
- Some folks are more worried about a #3 QB, but I'm not interested in using a pick or FA $ on a QB unless he's the future starting QB. Minimum vet $ or an UDFA suits me fine for now.

RB Demarco Murray / Kenjon Barner / Lance Dunbar
- Barner fits the bill for the the type of guy we're supposedly looking for. We'll need another body, but UDFA has been shown to do that in the past.

FB Lawrence Vickers
- I'm not in favor of cutting him.

WR Dez Bryant / Danny Coale
WR Miles Austin / Dwayne Harris
SWR Ace Sanders / Dan Beasley
- I do think we need to spend a pick on WR in this draft. Whoever it is, I hope he's a guy who has excellent YAC ability.

TE Jason Witten / James Hanna
- I could see us going with a TE somewhere. I like Toilolo, but keep an eye on Travis Kelce.

Yeah, I was leaning towards just making a list of potential FAs, but then said what the heck, I'll just list them as signees! Hahaha

Thanks for the reply!

Although he's old and I'm typically against stop gaps I think Ronde is valuable because of his knowledge of the defense. He'd be able to coach Church, Carr, Claiborne on field and allow the team to develop Matt Johnson or a draft pick behind him.

Durant, as I've said before, is also a progress stopper but if the team isn't sold on Albright and Wilbur, why take a chance? Sign the guy.

Moore is better than any guard on the roster. Old, but an upgrade none the less.